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Aeroflot fly direct to Moscow–Sheremetyevo from London-Heathrow and British Airways fly to Moscow–Domodedovo. easyJet will be offering direct flights from Gatwick to Moscow-Domodedovo. A number of airlines offer indirect flights to Moscow from London. Air Baltic fly from Gatwick to Sheremetyevo with a stop in Riga. Turkish Airlines fly from Gatwick to Vnukovo with a stop in Istanbul, and Pegasus fly from Stansted to Domodedovo with a stop in Istanbul.

Terminal Information – Departing

This is a guideline. Always check your boarding pass for up-to-date terminal information.

Heathrow: Aeroflot fly from Terminal 4 while British Airways fly from Terminal 5. Both terminals have their own stops on the tube, so check your terminal before you board the train. Both terminals are also renowned for their high-end shopping and restaurants. Gordon Ramsay has an outpost in Terminal 5, as do major designer brands like Alexander McQueen and Burberry.

Stansted: A small, one terminal airport with everything you need for a chilled-out pre-flight experience. There's a large duty free shop where you can shop 'til you drop, as well as a good range of restaurants and bars. James Martin has a restaurant in the airport, and there's a champagne bar if you want to kick off your trip in style.

Gatwick: easyJet flights depart from the North Terminal. If you're arriving at the airport by train you will need to take the inter-terminal shuttle as the train station is in the South Terminal. The North Terminal at Gatwick has a huge range of shops and places to eat. As well as Wagamama and Starbucks there are three Jamie Oliver offerings: a bakery, a pub and an Italian restaurant.

Terminal Information – Arriving

Sheremetyevo: Flights from London generally land at Terminal D. The Aeroexpress train runs between the airport and Belorussky Railway Terminal. There are also a number of public buses. Alternatively you could take a taxi however this will cost significantly more than the bus.

Domodedovo: The Aeroexpress train runs between the airport and Paveletsky Railway Terminal. The journey time takes about 50 minutes. There are also commuter trains, which take 75 minutes. There are numerous buses. Again, taxis should be booked in advance.

Vnukovo: The Aeroexpress train takes 40 minutes to reach Kievsky Railway Terminal and tickets can be purchased online in advance. Taxis should be pre-booked but will be significantly more expensive

Practical Information

You need to apply for a visa before you arrive in Russia: try to apply as far in advance as possible. It can take 10 days to process tourist visas, and longer during periods of high demand. The application centres and diplomatic missions in Edinburgh and London collect biometric data (fingerprints) for extra security. If you're visiting for more than seven days you will need to register with the Federal Migration Service: most hotels do this for you, and if you're staying in a private rent the owner should sort it out. You need a valid passport to visit Russia, and it needs to be valid for six months after the expiry date of your visa. You will need to sign a migration card once you land.

What to expect in Moscow

Moscow is three hours ahead of the UK and the currency is the Russian Ruble (RUB). English is not widely spoken in Moscow, and signs are in Cyrillic script. If you're not travelling with someone who is fluent in Russian it's a good idea to bring a map which has both Cyrillic and Latin characters marking subway stations and streets.